WORLDWIDE RADIO SUMMIT 2018 CONTINUES TO FOSTER INSPIRATION AND INNOVATION FOR THE GLOBAL BROADCAST AND MUSIC COMMUNITIES

The Worldwide Radio Summit (WWRS) continues to grow as it just recently wrapped its 8th edition at Hollywood’s W Hotel, May 2nd – 4th. The event once again brought together radio leaders from around the world for inspiring dialogue on the future of the global broadcast medium, and its continued evolution in our constantly changing music and media landscape.

Sat Bisla, President & Founder, A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO and Founder of Worldwide Radio Summit added, “The Worldwide Radio Summit continues to be an essential forum to unite and inspire everyone from all aspects of radio [traditional, digital, mobile, satellite, streaming] together to share, discuss and interact the current and future opportunities of the world’s greatest communicator of sound – radio! It’s been great to partner with our dear friend Joel Denver and his team at AllAccess.com along with everyone at A&R Worldwide to bring together an event that truly makes a positive difference to everyone who attends the Worldwide Radio Summit – it creates a foundation for a true and honest dialogue for anyone and everyone who has a connection to radio.”

AllAccess.com Publisher and WWRS co-partner, Joel Denver, commented, “Worldwide Radio Summit 2018 was our largest event to date with over 800 attending the sessions, cocktail parties and luncheons offering an amazing opportunity for the best of the best in radio, music, social/digital to mingle and trade ideas to keep radio – on all platforms – healthy and creative. My sincere thanks to my team at AllAccess.com and to Sat Bisla and his team at A&R Worldwide for a terrific partnership and combined effort into making this yearly event successful and beneficial for our delegates.”

UNEARTHING THE NEXT GLOBAL RADIO HITS: A number of radio and record label executives came together to give their feedback on the radio potential of a number of emerging acts, paired with research from global firm SoundOut as well as real-time audience data provided by Strategic Solutions Research.

THE VOICES BEHIND THE DIAL: Pictured l-r are radio personalities Dede McGuire, Tino Cochino, Scott Shannon, Woody Fife and Chet Buchannan who closed WWRS 2018 with the always popular Air Talent session as they discussed the importance of the personalities behind the station to the success of the radio brand itself.

KEITH NAFTALY APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF A&R FOR RCA RECORDS

Keith Naftaly

Renowned Australasian-based music manager Scott Maclachlan is to join the team at Warner Music Australasia as Sr. VP of A&R. Scott will report to Niko Nordström, President of Warner Music Australasia, and will split his time between the company’s Auckland and Sydney offices. Maclachlan is the Co-Founder and Director of Saiko Management, a boutique music management company with offices in Auckland and New York, which he launched with his business partner Tim Youngson (formerly of the well-known New Zealand indie-rock act, Steriogram). Maclachlan is best known for unearthing and nurturing Lorde and SOL3 MIO, two of New Zealand’s most successful artists.

Maclachlan stated, “I’m stoked to be joining Niko and the team at Warner Music Australasia. The global streaming-driven music market creates amazing opportunities to break great artists from Australia and New Zealand around the world and that’s something I’m committed to doing over the coming years.”

Nordström added, “Scott’s a legend in the music industry and he brings local knowledge and global experience to this pivotal role. He has a true affinity with artists and always puts their needs first. That’s how he’s been able to generate such amazing results over the years. We’re delighted that he’s joined the Warner Music team.”

Originally from the U.K., Maclachlan spent 20 years in the music industry there before relocating to New Zealand in 2008. He spent five years working for Universal MusicNew Zealand, spearheading A&R and new business activity, before concentrating full-time on Saiko Management from 2013. It was during his stint with Universal Music that Maclachlan discovered Lorde in 2009. He signed her to a development deal at age 13, allowing her to develop further personally and artistically, before the release of the global smash single, “Royals” in 2012.

Additionally, Maclachlan discovered SOL3 MIO, the two tenor brothers, Pene and Amitai Pati, and their cousin Moses Mackay who have become the biggest selling act in New Zealand over the last four years. Maclachlan also represents the New Zealand artists Balu Brigada, LEISURE and Thomston, the Australian acts E^ST and Glades, as well as The Aces in the U.S. He will maintain an advisory role at Saiko Management.

Maclachlan garnered the International Achievement of the Year prize at the New Zealand Music Manager Awards in 2014 and 2015 and was named “Manager of the Year” in 2015. He was also awarded honors as the “Best Int’l Music Manager,” along with Tim Youngson, at MUSEXPO 2015 during the esteemed “International Music Industry Awards,” presented by Pepsi in Los Angeles. He also won the New Zealand Online Achievement Award in 2012.

SCOTT MACLACHLAN APPOINTED SR. VP OF A&R AT WARNER MUSIC AUSTRALASIA

Scott Maclachlan

RCA Records has announced the promotion of Keith Naftaly to President of A&R for the label. The veteran executive and widely-respected former radio programmer had most recently served as EVP/Head of A&R for RCA since late 2012. Naftaly will be based out of the label's headquarters in NYC and continue reporting to Peter Edge, CEO of RCA.

Naftaly has looked after successful campaigns for Pentatonix and new albums from P!nk, Kesha, Sia and G-Eazy. Most recently, he's been working across follow-up full-lengths for both Zayn and Elle King.

Edge commented, "I have worked with Keith for many years and continue to be impressed by his musical instincts and understanding of pop culture. These talents, alongside his demonstrated ability to develop the next generation of A&R stars, make him an invaluable asset to RCA. His integrity and generous spirit as one of our key creative executives have also helped make RCA the number one destination for great music and true artistry."

Naftaly said, "To be on the creative front lines of hit making during such a vibrant time for music is still an honor, privilege and stimulating challenge. While old school behavior and barriers continue to crash and burn, I'm especially proud of our diverse, trailblazing roster and our innovative, passionate, intensely focused executive squad."

Prior to entering the record label arena, Naftaly served as a widely-influential radio programmer, including at San Francisco's KMEL where he helped develop the Rhythm/Crossover format which resulted in hip-hop's delivery to mainstream pop audiences. He also worked at Los Angeles' KKBT/The Beat with both stations garnering their highest ratings ever under his leadership.

BMG has announced that Dido, creator of two of the biggest-selling albums of all time, will release her new studio full-length through the company. The new deal marks only the second record deal ever that Dido has signed in her over twenty-year-long career, during which she has sold more than 30 million albums.

The new album, her fifth, is scheduled for release worldwide by BMG in early 2019. Dido co-wrote and co-produced the album with her brother and fellow BMG artist, Rollo Armstrong, of Faithless.

BMG UK President Repertoire & Marketing Alistair Norbury said, “We are thrilled to partner with Dido for her new album. She is the quintessential BMG artist; an international icon who is returning after 5 years with an outstanding record.”

Dido said, “I couldn’t be happier to sign to BMG, their enthusiasm and passion for the record was evident from day one.”

Dido’s recording career began with her first demos in 1995, before doing tracks with Rollo and Faithless. Her debut album No Angel, which was release in 1999, has moved over 22 million copies globally, reaching No.1 in eight countries, including the U.K. and France, and No.2 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. The album featured the single, “Thank You,” which was sampled in Eminem’s worldwide No.1 single, “Stan.”

Dido’s sophomore effort, Life For Rent, was released in 2003 and sold more than 12 million copies worldwide while generating the global hit and Ivor Novello award-winning single, “White Flag.” Follow-up albums Safe Trip Home (2008) and Girl Who Got Away (2014) saw Dido exploring collaborations with the likes of Brian Eno, A.R. Rahman and Kendrick Lamar.

Dido was originally signed to Cheeky Records, founded by Mel Medalie and Rollo, and garnered her initial key global radio and international A&R support from A&R Worldwide Founder Sat Bisla back in 1994, two years prior to her signing with Arista Records in the U.S.

MONTI OLSON JOINS SHANI GONZALES AS CO-HEAD OF A&R FOR FRONTLINE PUBLISHING AT BMG U.S.

Monti Olson, Shani Gonzales & Thomas Scherer

BMG has brought on veteran A&R executive Monti Olson to partner with Shani Gonzales as Co-Head A&R, Frontline Publishing for its U.S. operations. Together, Olson and Gonzales will oversee BMG’s creative teams in Los Angeles and New York, reporting to Thomas Scherer, BMG EVP Frontline Publishing U.S.

Olson joins BMG from Warner Bros Records where he recently served as Sr. VP, A&R, working with artists such as KAI, Chase Atlantic, Benny Cassette and Josh Groban, as well as the soundtrack to the film Marshall, featuring the Academy Award-nominated song “Stand Up.”

At the same time, Gonzales adds responsibilities as Co-Head, Writer Services in the U.K., working alongside A&R Director Hugo Turquet to build opportunities for U.K.-based writers in the U.S.

Olson’s more than two decades of experience include work with the likes of Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Ari Levine of The Smeezingtons, and songwriting/producing team, The Matrix. He previously served as EVP and Managing Director of Worldwide Music Publishing at Global Entertainment, the U.S. content creation and multi-rights division of U.K.-based Global, The Media and Entertainment Group. Prior, Olson was EVP/Head of Pop & Rock Music, Creative, at Universal Music Publishing Group where he jointly led the company’s U.S. creative teams, overseeing the company’s Pop and Rock creative operations. Before heading to Universal in 2007, Olson was Sr. VP/Head of A&R at BMG Music Publishing for five years and also spent time with peermusic, Windswept Pacific and MCA Records. In 2006, he launched the Original Recordings Group, a vinyl reissues record company.

Scherer said, “Monti is the perfect complement to Shani and BMG. He brings an incredible track record and experience to the team which will also give Shani the space for her additional role. The ability to bring together talented writers from wherever they come is a key part of the BMG approach. Shani will be at the center of our plan to bring together writers from the world’s two most globally influential music markets.”

GLOBAL NEWS UPDATES…

Veteran digital music executive Mark Eisenberg has been tapped by SoundCloud as Sr. VP, Content Partnerships. Eisenberg had served previously as Sr. VP of Strategic Initiatives at SoundExchange and, in his new role, is responsible for moving forward SoundCloud's global content licensing initiatives and building upon its relationships with labels, publishers, PROs and collecting societies. Eisenberg will also work across SoundCloud's strategic direction, developing new products and generating new business opportunities. When he joins SoundCloud later this month, Eisenberg will be based in NYC while reporting to COO, Michael Weissman. Prior to SoundExchange, Eisenberg held the role of Global Head of Content Acquisitions with MixRadio. His resume also includes roles as VP and Head of Business and Legal Affairs for Sony Music Entertainment's Global Digital Business Group as well as serving as an attorney with several law firms.

INgrooves has finalized a long-term distribution deal with Rich Music. Rich, founded in 2007 by father/son team Rich and Josh Mendez, counts the likes of Justin Quiles, DJ Flow, Dalex and Magnifico on their roster and was nominated for Latin Rhythm Albums label of the year at the 2017 Billboard Latin Music awards. The new deal saw its first release last week as the remix of “Miss Lonely” by Sech, featuring Justin Quiles, Farruko, De La Ghetto and Dimelo Flow.

Leading promoter Live Nation seeks to grow its operations in the New Zealand market as it recently revealed a round of senior leadership appointments for its operations in the territory. Assuming the role of Chairman for Live Nation New Zealand is veteran entertainment executive Stuart Clumpas while Rick Latham steps into the role of Head of Operations and Steve Wheadon to Head of Production. Mark Kneebone has also been elevated to Head of Promotions where he will lead strategic event and talent development, and marketing. The move comes on the heels of Live Nation taking a controlling interest in Rhythm & Vines Festival. Alongside their expanded roles, Latham and Wheadon will maintain their responsibilities overseeing the operations and production teams at Spark Arena.

Pulse Music Group has acquired boutique music services firm, Hitcher, it was announced last week by Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham, co-CEOs of Pulse Music Group. The acquisition sees Pulse absorbing Hitcher into its film/TV division, and Hitcher’s Founder, Joe Rangel, becoming a principal in Pulse Music Group and serving as Head of Sync, Creative & Licensing for the company. Launched in 2013 as a partnership between Rangel and Pulse Music Group, Hitcher has, since that time, provided licensing and marketing services for Pulse, including sync for all media and music supervision with a client roster that has also included Prince, Cash Money, Island Def Jam, Parlophone, 300 Entertainment and Universal Republic among others. Rangel’s new role will have him overseeing all aspects of sync and licensing worldwide, bringing his long-time music industry experience including as VP of Film & TV for EMI Music Publishing, EMI-Capitol Records and Miramax Films. Pulse’s catalog has seen placements with major brands such as Super Bowl LII spots for Lexus (Run the Jewels “Legend Has It” via El-P); Pepsi (Kesha “Boogie Feet” via Drew Pearson); and Monster Beats (Iggy Azalea “Savior” via Verse Simmonds). Rangel’s work has seen placements for Pulse music with the likes of Apple, AT&T, EA, Netflix, Southwest Airlines, Old Navy and Lexus as well as across television shows such as Empire, This is Us, Insecure and Billions; and franchise films including 50 Shades of Grey and the Fast and Furious.

A partnership has been finalized between the Prince Estate and streaming platform Tidal to see the latter exclusively releasing a collection of previously unheard material. The partnership sees Tidal with a 14-day exclusive for the album of music from Prince’s archive, scheduled for 2019. The full-length, with a song selection being curated between the estate and Jay Z, will be available for download one week after its debut on Tidal, with a physical release to follow.

Eventbrite and Instagram have revealed a new partnership to see fans able to purchase tickets to Las Vegas’ Life is Beautiful festival without having to leave the social network’s mobile app. Life is Beautiful is one of the first events to participate in the new initiative between Eventbrite and Instagram. The new integration is part of a larger roll-out for Instagram that also includes new messaging functions and capability to book restaurant reservations and buy movie tickets, as it seeks to make its social platform more effective for businesses to connect with customers. The collaboration will allow Instagram event creators to add a “Get Tickets” button to the profile page of their business account which will direct fans to a list of events and ticket purchasing options within the app. With over 80% of Instagram business profiles from outside of the U.S., the integration is available to all markets in which Eventbrite operates such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe and New Zealand. For Eventbrite, the Instagram partnership is not the first for the ticketing platform with a social network, having already been working with Facebook (who owns Instagram) over the past few years.

YouTube has rolled out its revamped chart offering as it looks to highlight the success of a diverse collection of acts from “emerging stars to perennial chart-toppers.” The news comes as YouTube prepares the reboot of its paid subscription service. The new chart offering is located at YouTube.com/charts, and grows its footprint to reach 44 different countries. Marking the most significant update is the appearance of a new Trending Chart, updated multiple times daily and tracking the consumption of new music users. Currently existing charts Top Songs, Top Artists, and Top Music Videos, have also been given an update. YouTube charts currently claims over 1.8 billion users monthly worldwide.

Riptide Music Group and Sky have partnered on the latter’s new trailer music label, Wall Of Noise, to see Riptide representing Wall Of Noise throughout the U.S. and Canada. Wall Of Noise seeks to offer a catalogue geared toward producers, editors and creatives working across motion picture advertising and major network TV Promo. The library was created with Wall Of Noise’s team working alongside Sky Television’s trailer producers to curate music that fit the requirements of its various movie channels.

peermusic has acquired Paul Rodriguez Music (PRM), bringing PRM’s publishing catalog of top media composers and a catalog of pop-leaning repertoire to peermusic. PRM’s operations also including neighbouring rights and library music businesses. Included across its represented catalog, PRM counts the music from The Weakest Link, and that from media composers such as Paul Farrer, Julian Ronnie, David Lowe, Dave Hubbard and Paul Lawler as well as admin deals with TV production companies including Cicada Films, the Oxford Film Co and Bullseye TV.

Bloomsbury Publishing, the publisher behind the 33 1/3 paperback series highlighting single albums, has revealed a new content partnership with Spotify. The new initiative will see a series of the 33 1/3 paperbacks available exclusively via the streaming platform. Since rolling out in 2003, the series has covered Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis; The Beatles' Let It Me;’s Elliott SmithXO; Television’s Marquee Moon; J Dilla’s Donuts; Devo’s Freedom of Choice; Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew, with 131 books published in the series as of this month.

Native Tongue has signed Brisbane-based writer and producer Konstantin Kersting. It was also announced last week that Mallrat's “Better,” co-written and produced by Kersting, had won the award for Best Unpublished Work in the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition. Kersting will continue to build on his career that has already included work with Mallrat, Tia Gostelow, The Jungle Giants and The Belligerents.

GL Music Publishing A/S has signed multi-instrumentalist producer/songwriter Kasper “Kay” Larsen to a worldwide publishing deal. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, Kay is represented by Adam Clough of 365 Artists in London. This year sees writing and production credits for Kay on the new upcoming single for Chelcee Grimes for RCA as well the latest Calum Scott single, “Rhythm Inside,” which featured on his debut top 5 U.K album Only Human (Capitol Records). Kasper has also worked on releases for Selena Gomez, The Wanted, Big Time Rush, Conor Maynard, Sekai no Owari, Shane Filan, Fleur East and a large number of platinum-certified Danish acts such as Christopher and Joey Moe. Under his producer name Kay, Kasper also regularly collaborates with Cutfather on various projects.

A brand new, state of the art music studio complex has opened its doors in Beijing by Modern Sky Entertainment with the independent company partnering with Stephen Budd Music to bring British producers to China. The new Modern Sky Studio complex is located in the company’s Beijing headquarters and features industry-leading hardware as well as many of the same systems placed in iconic studios such as Abbey Road, AIR and Capitol Studios. Modern Sky will work with Stephen Budd Music to give domestic Chinese artists the opportunity to work with international producers. British producers from Stephen Budd Music will join Modern Sky Studio’s recording team consisting of Chen Dong, Wang Haichen and Zang Lu. In addition to its Beijing headquarters, Modern Sky Entertainment has offices in New York and Liverpool in the U.K. with the U.K. operations led by Sound City Founder, Dave Pichilingi.

Drew Vollero will part ways with his CFO position at Snap, the parent company behind Snapchat, tomorrow as the company brings on longtime Amazon finance executive Tim Stone to fill the role. Having joined Snap less than three years ago, Vollero and Chief Strategy Officer Imran Khan worked across the company’s public offering last year with an opening valuation of $33 billion. Struggling to meet Wall Street’s expectations, the company recently revealed revenue on May 1st for the quarter at $231 million, falling short of the anticipated $244 million. Vollero will maintain an advisory role with Snap until August. With 20 years of experience at Amazon, Stone’s roles with the company included VP Finance and VP of Physical Stores.

The Beat starring Dave Wakeling is set to release brand new music via Absolute Label Services in the form of the full-length, Here We Go Love!, marking the first new music to be released by a Dave Wakeling fronted Beat line-up since 1982. Scheduled for May 25th, Absolute will provide a range of services across the release including sales, marketing and distribution. The Beat first entered the charts in 1979 and went on to garner five Top 10 singles with their first two albums peaking at No.3 in the charts. The Beat starring Dave Wakeling are also preparing a U.K. tour this year, starting at Manchester’s Club Academy and including a performance for Radio 2 at the BBC Biggest Weekend in Scone Palace, Perth.

Chrysalis Records’ dance imprint, Cooltempo, is set to be re-launched by its new owner, Blue Raincoat Music. The label’s back catalogue includes works from iconic electronic and hip-hop artists such as D’Angelo, Monie Love, Gang Starr, Arrested Development and Paul Hardcastle. Cooltempo joined the Blue Raincoat Music stable as part of their purchase of Chrysalis Records in June 2016. Cooltempo's first release in almost 20 years will come from internationally acclaimed DJ/producer Francesca Lombardo with her single “Eye Ring” this month, to be followed by her debut full length, Life Of Leaf. Additional releases via Cooltempo will include the debut album from Infinity Ink. Cooltempo will be distributed worldwide via Amsterdam's Armada Music.

Faber Alt. has formed as the new alternative arm of Faber Music, geared toward supporting the more commercial-leaning side of the company’s repertoire and signing new acts. Faber Alt. will provide its roster of alternative, non-classical and crossover artists with a global rights management service and promotional support across sync, bespoke commissions and other creative opportunities. The new division will also commission special edition books following the blueprint of Keaton Henson’s, The Tallowmere Annual. Leading the new set-up is Lucy Holliday, Head of Pop and Digital Publishing, with Catherine Grieves as media music manager. Currently, the Faber Alt. roster counts Henry Green, Jonny Greenwood, Anna Meredith and Valgeir Sigurðsson, with recent signings including Mesadorm and JJ Draper.

Boutique publisher BDi Music has signed singer/songwriter/producer Joshua Burnside to an exclusive worldwide deal. Combining alternative folk with South American rhythms, Burnside’s debut full-length, Ephrata, was widely acclaimed and garnered the Northern Ireland Music Prize in 2017. Ephrata has already generated over 3.5 million plays on Spotify and 250,000 views on YouTube. Burnside recently performed at this year’s SXSW and will play both BBC 6 Music’s The Biggest Weekend Fringe and The Great Escape in May with a tour to continue through the U.K. and Ireland until August. His new EP, All Around The Light Said, will be released on June 29th.

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A&R WORLDWIDE’S "ARTIST OF THE WEEK" – MACKESON

Portland-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter and producer Mackeson assembles widescreen pop energy, simmering soulful vocals, new wave synths, hip-hop beats and orchestral film score sensibilities into a sonic signature, thriving on simple, yet stark contrasts. His music tastes were inspired by the globally syndicated Passport Approved radio show he grew up listening to for many years on his hometown radio station KNRK “94/7” Alternative Portland. Three years ago he recorded nine tracks and uploaded them to Soundcloud as a private link; he forwarded the link to a handful of friends and it organically made the rounds across the industry—reaching the inboxes of everyone from tastemakers various major label executives. Landing his first deal as a result, Mackeson plummeted from “the highest of highs to the lowest of lows,” as he puts it, as his project was shelved and ties were severed. Not one to give up, Mackeson went back to the drawing board, drawing from a wide range of musical inspirations and crafted a broadening cinematic soul/pop-style, working alongside co-producer Justyn Pibrow (Halsey, The Neighbourhood). Overseeing every single detail like a mad scientist, Mackeson personally performed and arranged strings, piano Wurlitzer, mellotron, drums, bass, synths, vibraphone and anything else he could get his hands on in the studio. Now signed to Bad Habit/Atlantic Records and working on a studio album, a taste of his hard work can be heard on his single “Bye Bye Baby.” Listen to the song HERE.Contact Mackeson at info@bigplansent.com, as Mackeson is currently available for synch and branding opportunities.

A&R WORLDWIDE’S "VIDEO OF THE WEEK" – DJ SNAKE

William Sami Etienne Grigahcine may not sound familiar to the masses, but the French Grammy-nominated DJ/producer made his international breakthrough five years ago under the moniker DJ Snake with his collaboration with Lil Jon, “Turn Down For What.” The track reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and sold over one million copies within a few months and eventually went on to sell nearly 3.5 million copies in that year. In 2015, DJ Snake worked with Major Lazer and Danish singer-songwriter MØ on the song “Lean On,” which also reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland. In November of 2015, Spotify named “Lean On” the most streamed song of all time, earning over 1 billion streams globally as of June 2017, but the record has since been beat. The following year, DJ Snake worked with Justin Bieber on “Let Me Love You,” which also reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and shot straight to No. 1 in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico and other countries. After working with a number of artists including Dillon Francis, AlunaGeorge, Bipolar Sunshine, George Maple, Jeremih, Swizz Beatz, Lauv, Max Frost and more, DJ Snake has released his own single titled “Magenta Riddim.” The song has already reached Top 20 in France and the U.S. Dance charts and the video is climbing towards 30 million views on YouTube alone. Watch the visual for “Magenta Riddim” HERE and contact Amy Thomson at Amy@atmartists.com for inquiries.